Controlling mechanism



' c. E. HOPKINS- CONTROLLING MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 25, 1911 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 dawn Dec. 11 ,1923.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 c E HOPKINS CONTROLLING MECHANISM Original Fi led Feb., 25, @91

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ATE

CHARLES E. HOPKINS, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY; THE PLAINFIELD TRUST COMPANY ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID CHARLES E. HOPKINS, DECEASED.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Original application filed February 25, 1911, Serial. No. 610,834. Divided and this application filed July 12, 1920. Serial N0. 395,559.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that '1, Cinemas E. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residin at Plainfield, in thecounty of Union and tate of New Jersey, have invented-a new and useful Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This is a division of my Patent No.-1,286,-

323, on a machine for making stereotype plates, patented Dec. 8, 1918, on an application filed February 25, 1911, Serial No. 610,-

834 and its divi ional application Ser. No. 159,117 filed April 2, 1917.

The invention comprises a practicable simple and convenient mechanism for controlling the operations of an automatic machine. I have illustrated it as employed for controlling the parts of a machine for finishing and cooling stereotype printing 2 plates. Such a machine is designed for shaving the ribs cast on the concave surface of the plate, cutting off the riser, beveling the riser and, gradually lowering and finally dropping the tail out off, releasing the plate and. allowing it to be fed by gravity from the finishing mechanism to a final cooling mechanism. 7 I

More specifically it involves connections whereby the operator can start the machine by pushing, on a pedal or lever and can stop it again at any pointin its cycle of motion by operating the same pedal or lever in the same direction and'in the same way.

The invention also involves numerous improvements in details of construction and in mechanism for carrying out the objects elsewhere specified herein.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of a stereotype finishing machine constructed in accordance with this invention, and

Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In order to get a general idea of the in vention it may be stated that the drawing shows a machine embodying a stereotype plate finishing mechanism which delivers to a cooling device a cast and finished stereotype printing plate; 7

I will not explain the mechanism for shaving the ribs cast on the concave surface of the stereotype plate, the; mechanism for cutofi the. riser W and. bevelinfg that. curved end, or the means for conveyin the finished stereotype plate from the finishing mechanism. to the cooling mechanism.

.Mounted on the frame is a longitudinal main shaft 158 operated as will be explained hereinafter. Fastened to the main shaft is a shaving knife which extends lengthwise, the said knife being so positioned as to engage and smooth oif the faces of the ribs cast on the stereotype concavity: c The main shaft is'caused to make one revolution each time a foot trip or pedal 591s pushed down and released to operate a clutch jaw 83. During the revolution of the main shaft a stereotype plate is shaved and the riser out free from the" said plate, by tools carried by the said: shaft, which engage the stereotype plate. 1 I

Itmust be understood that a crossshaft 31 is revolved continuously by the driving shaft 52 to which it is connected by beveled gears 55. The driving shaft is driven by any suitable source of power and connection a belt and pulley 54: onthe shaft 52, being shown for this purpose;

The construction and operation of the shaving and trimming mechanism is fully shown and described in my above mentioned Patent No. 1,286,323. I will only show. and 1 operating describe the mechanismslio-wn for the same.

Keyed to the lower end of what I call the main shaft 158, that is, themain shaft of the finishing device, is a'hub 2 7. Rotatably mounted on the hub is a large worm gear 25 which for. the purpose of'pre-venting accident is made in two parts, oneof which is atoothed rim 26 with afiat web. The hub 27 has a broad flange 28 which contacts with the said web. The rim and hubare made to travel together by a breaking'pin 29 positioned in a hole through both members. The reason for making the gear in two parts is .to prevent accidentin case the main shaft'should for any reason be prevented from moving with thegearin which case as constructed the pin 29 would be cut in t wo-= and no other damage done.

Positioned below- .the [worm gear and loosely mounted on a crossfshaft'31,,so as tomesh with the gear teeth. is a. worm 32. One

end of it is formed with a clutchfjaw; 33.

Mounted on the same shaftand facingthe a f we which is made to revolve with the shaft. Pivoted below thisj aw On a stud 35 fastened inv a leg of the frame is a shifting yoke carrying projections 37 which engage in a groove 38 made around the sliding jaw more. ber. One'of the arms of the yoke extends upward and mounted on a stud 39 in said extension is a small roller 40. To the face of the worm gear 25 is pivoted a latch' l2' positioned so that after each revolution of the worm gear it will engage the roller 40 and force the jaws of the sliding clutch out ofengagement with the jaws of the worm, and hold them disengaged until the latch is moved on its pivot out of engagement with the yoke extension roller 40. The yoke at all times is held toward the engaging position by a compressed spring mounted on a rod as operating through a bracket 4:5 on the frame, the rod being attached to the yoke extension 36.

A trip mechanism for disengaging the latch 42 is located so as to push the said latch up and free from the yoke extension roller. This consists of an upright rod 48, operating in bearings on a leg of the frame and carrying on its top an extension 49 with, a beveled side 47. This extension when pushed up a short way, engages with a pin 50 on the. side of the latch which raises said latch and thus releases the yoke 36. Then the spring on the rod 44: turns the yoke which in turn advances the sliding jaw into engagement with the jaw on the worm. f

The means employed for operating the trip rod 48 consists of a short lever 56, fast on a rod 57, operating in bearings and extending lengthwise of the machine and located at the back side but beneath the frame. To the opposite end of this rod is fastened an arm 58 which extends toward the front side of the machine. To a convenient frame is pivoted on a stud a foot pedal having an extending arm which engages the arm 58.

By this mechanism the operator, by push ing the pedal down, can force the latch 42 out of engagement with the yoke extension and thereby start the machine. It will continue until the latch acts to etc it. But in case he wishes to stop the mac ine for any reason before the latch acts, a sec ond push downward will force the beveled edge at of the extension of the came?) up into engagement with the yoke extension roller 40 and foirce'the jaws of the clutch out of engagment. A spring 60 is mounted on the upright rod for the purposeof holding the said rod down and out of the path of the latch when the machine is inoperation,

and returning the pedal to its normal raised position. I do not claim herein the combination of 'this'mechanism with the finishing machine 7 as that is included in my above mentioned application Serial No. 159,117. I

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment. of the invention.

and a finishing shaft, of a clutch for con necting said shafts, a member rotatable with the finishing shaft, a shifting yoke for operating said clutch, a latch movably' 'mounted on said rotary member in such position that after each revolution thereof it will engage and operate the shifting yoke to disengage the clutch and hold it disengaged, and means for movingthe'latch on the rotary member to inoperative position.'

2. The combination with a driving shaft and a finishing shaft, of a clutch for connecting said shafts, ashifting yoke for op erating said clutch, a. latch in such position that it' will periodically operatethe shifting yoke to force the clutch out of engagement and hold it disengaged until the'latch is moved'out of'engagement with the yoke, resilient means for holding the yoke normally in its engaging position,

rod, and a pin on the'latch in position to Y I be engaged by said rod, whereby the latch will be moved out of engagement with the yoke. 1

3. The combination with a and a secoudshaft, of a-clutch for connecting said shafts, a yoke extension for operating said clutch, a latch for controlling said yoke extension, a'lever or pedal lodriving shaft cated in position for forcing the la tch' out of engagement with the yoke extension, a spring for connecting the clutch and starting the second shaft when theipedal or lever is pushed down, and means whereby when the pedal or lever is pressed downward again the clutch will be disengaged.

4. The combination with a driving shaft and asecond shaft, of a clutch for connecting said shafts, a lever or pedal, yielding means controlled thereby for connecting the clutch and starting the second shaft when the lever is pushed, and positive, means whereby when thepedal or lever is pressed again in the same directionthe shafts will be disconnected. I 'i 5. The 00 bination with a driving shaft. and a second shaft, of a clutch having jaws for oonnecting'said shafts, a member.

rotatable with; the sewed Shaft, a ama shifting yoke for operating said clutch, a. pivoted latch on said rotary member in a position to engage and 'operate the shifting yoke at each rotationiof the rotatable memher to force the jaws of the clutch out of engagement with each other and hold them disengaged until the latch is moved out of engagement with the yoke, and resilient means for holding the yoke normally in its engaging position.

6. The combination with a driving shaft and a second shaft, of a clutch, having jaws for connectingsaid shafts, a. member rotatable with the second shaft, a shifting yoke for operating said clutch, a latch on the rotatable member in a. position to engage and operate the shifting yoke at each rotation of the rotatable member to force the jaws of the clutch out of engagement with each other, resilient means for holding the yoke normally in its engaging position,

and a trip mechanism for disengaging the latch.

7. The combination with a driving and a driven shaft, and a clutch for connecting said shafts, of a wheel on the driven shaft, a yoke for operating said clutch, a latch movably mounted on said wheel in position to engage and operate the yoke to separate the members of the clutch and disconnect the driven shaft from the driving shaft, a starting pedal, means connected with said pedal for moving said latch to inoperative position, and constantly operating yielding means for then acting on the yoke to restore the clutch to operative position and connect the two shafts.

8. The combination with a driving and a driven shaft, and a clutch for connecting said shafts, of a wheel on the driven shaft, a yoke for operating said clutch, a latch movably mounted on said wheel in position to engage and operate the yoke to separate the members of the clutch and disconnect the driven shaft from the driving shaft, a

starting pedal, means connected with said pedal for moving said latch to inoperative position, and constantly operating yielding means for then acting on the yoke to restore the clutch to operative position and connect the two shafts, said means operated by the pedal also having means for disengaging the clutch members if the pedal is depressed a second time while the driven shaft is rotatmg.

9. The combination with a driving and a driven shaft, and a clutch for connecting said shafts, of'a wheel on the driven shaft, a yoke for operating said clutch, a latch movably mounted on said wheel in position to engage and operate the yoke to separate the members of-the clutch and disconnect,

the driven shaft from the. driving shaft, a

starting pedal, means connected with said pedal for moving said latch to inoperative position, and constantly operating yielding means for then acting on theflyoke to .restore the clutch to operative position and connect the two shafts, said latch being in position to again operate the yoke when the driven shaft has made a complete revolution and thus automatically stop the driven I shaft at that time.

10. Thecombinatio'n with a driving shaft 'and' a, finishing shaft, of a clutch for connecting said shafts, a member rotatable with the finishing shaft, a shifting yoke for operating said clutch, a latch movably'mounted on said rotary memberin such position'that after each revolution thereof itwill engage and operate the shifting yoke to disengage the clutch and hold it disengaged, and p means for moving the latch on the rotary member to inoperative position, said means comprlslng a sliding rod having a head for operating the latch, a spring for holding. the

rod in inoperative position, and a starting pedal having connections for moving the rod against the action of the spring into a position for moving the latch.

11. The combination with a driving shaft and a finishing shaft, of a clutch for connecting saidshafts. a member rotatable with the finishing shaft, a shifting yoke for operating said clutch, a latch'movably mounted on said rotary member in such position that after each revolution thereof it will engage and operate the shifting yoke to disengage the clutch and hold it disengaged, and means for moving the latch on the rotary member to inoperative position, said means comprising asliding rod having a head for operating the latch, a spring for holding the rod in inoperative position, a starting pedal having connections for moving the rod against the action of the spring into a position for moving the latch, said head also having a beveled side adapted to engage the yoke after the machine is started and move the yoke to a position to disengage the clutch sections.

In testimony whereof I' have affixed my signature.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS.

hereunto 

